11 , 



Is not more notice taken of the sale of Plovers than necessary? 

 At the price they are sold in London, it would never pay to get 

 them unless they were taken in quantities, as I believe they are 

 in Holland by nets, and then only when they are in flocks. The 

 extent of country inhabited by the Golden Plover and Peewit is 

 immense. The former probably breeds over the hilly parts of 

 Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Russia, and Iceland, the greater por- 

 tion of which is desolate waste ; and when the millions there are 

 of them are taken into consideration, what does the quantity 

 captured amount to ? Merely nothing. If they are of so much 

 importance, why not bring in an Act of Parliament to prevent the 

 reclamation and improvement of the bogs and waste lands in this 

 country, on which they ordinarily breed? The extent of country 

 over which species are scattered varies much ; but a bird like the 

 Teal, which appears to be common in Europe, Asia, and in winter 

 in Africa, and even in America, is represented by a closely-allied 

 species, if not only a permanent variety* of what consequence 

 is it that many of them are killed ? By all means give every 

 one the power to protect these on his own land and water ; but 

 we certainly should not prevent our neighbours the foreigners 

 from sending their produce to the best market under the circum- 

 stances. 



A drake Teal in March, when clean and unruffled, is simply a 

 gem, and how few know it! nothing can surpass its beauty. 

 When I can easily procure one, I often have it for a few days to 

 look at, and I have sometimes shown one to others, who have 

 been surprised at it, and would hardly believe it was an English 

 bird. And what can exceed the chasteness of the plumage of a 

 fine drake Garganey at the same season the exquisite arrange- 

 ment of lavender and white colours, and the green and brown ? 

 If we have a complete close time from February 15, no one can 

 ever again have an opportunity to see one in England, as they 

 never come even to Holland till late in March ; and even if they 

 could be procured in autumn, which I much doubt, not a single 

 bird would be in full plumage. 



Living in the northern half of the world, we are always 



* I observe the illustration of the Teal in one of my copies of Montagu's 

 work is taken from the American bird. 



